Page 55 of Wicked Ambition

“Of course, he didn’t,” the older woman said, lowering her voice to barely a whisper. “He’s worried about your safety, yours and the baby’s. But the US Army doesn’t send a covert Special Forces team into Trujillo for something minor. He’s not only concerned about the trouble your sister found ricocheting to you, but he must also be worried about his team’s operation endangering you as well.”

US Army? Special Forces?

Oz was a Green Beret?

Chapter 22

Ayla’s stomach chose that moment to spin a cartwheel before breaking into a full gymnastics routine. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths. “I’m sorry,” she apologized, not looking at the older woman.

She felt her stand but didn’t check. It was borderline on whether she was going to vomit, and all it would take was one thing to push her over the edge. She wasn’t risking it.

A moment later, the Señora returned. “Here,” she said, pressing something into Ayla’s hand. Reflex had her gripping it and opening her eyes. A red and blue package containing two soda crackers. She noticed more on the table in front of her. Tugging it open, she ate one of the crackers. It helped.

Nibbling at the second one, Ayla straightened. “Gracias, Señora Alvarez,” she said and put the empty wrapper on the table.

“De nada. The crackers always helped my sister with her morning sickness. I’ll give you more to carry with you.”

“Gracias,” Ayla said again and continued to eat in tiny bites. Now that the worst of the queasiness was passing, she needed the time to think through what the older woman had said.

Ayla had a million questions, but she couldn’t ask any of them. Not without giving away that she and Oz weren’t really married. And what if Oz had lied to the innkeeper and his wife? Maybe they wouldn’t let a mercenary stay, and he’d claimed to be a Green Beret on a covert mission. Whatever the case, she owed him for protecting her. For helping her. She’d keep her mouth shut and ask him a few questions later.

She took the last bite of cracker and eyed the remaining packages. With a smile, Señora Alvarez pushed them toward her. “Have more. Have as many as you like. They are for you.”

Helping herself to another package, she opened it and said, “I’m sorry for being such a weakling.”

“Why apologize?” the Señora said. “Morning sickness is not a weakness.”

With a rueful expression, Ayla said, “Well, yes, but…” She let her voice trail off.

“But?” the older woman prompted.

“But if my sister were pregnant, she wouldn’t allow a little morning sickness to slow her down.” She tried for a grin but wasn’t sure how successful she was. “As if Io’s body would even dare to be queasy. She’d tell it to toughen up, it would immediately obey, and she’d keep going.”

Señora Alvarez laughed. “I never had children of my own, but I have a sister. I have sisters-in-law. It doesn’t work that way, no matter how strong-willed a woman is.” She leaned forward and added, “Besides, morning sickness is a good sign that you are going to have a very healthy baby.”

Ayla chomped on the cracker and gave a polite smile. Señora Alvarez wasn’t buying it.

“Why do you compare yourself to your sister? Why do you find yourself lacking?”

“Maybe because everyone else does.”

“Who is everyone?”

Did she really want to get into this with a stranger? If she wanted to dig deep into this morass, she’d use the mental health benefits the Paladin League provided and find a licensed therapist. On the other hand, she’d never see the woman again after they left.

“My mom and dad, for two.” Ayla didn’t wait for the Señora to ask if she was sure. She immediately explained. “I can’t tell you the number of times my parents said to me, why can’t you be more like your sister?”

“Why would they ask such a thing?” She sounded genuinely puzzled, but then Señora Alvarez didn’t know her or Io.

“Because when we traveled, one of them would have to stay back with me while the other one went on an adventure with my sister. My mom and dad love adventures. My sister loves adventures. I’m not the adventurous type.”

“And yet here you are in Puerto Jardin.” Her tone was mild, and Ayla couldn’t read what the other woman thought.

“Because Io is in trouble. Not because I want to be here.”

“The reasons do not matter. You came. That’s adventurous.”

With a sigh, Ayla tried to frame her thoughts. It was clear the Señora didn’t understand. “If there was anyone else who could find Io—anyone—I would have stayed home and let them handle it.” She shrugged. “There wasn’t. My sister and I might not have much in common, but we love each other, and I would never abandon her.”

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